The person knocking on the door said they were a Pepco employee and needed to check out an alarm signaling a potential fire hazard. Once inside the home, police say, they flipped off the electric breaker and said there was a serious issue that needed immediate attention — and would cost thousands of dollars to fix.
It was a scam, Prince George’s County police say, and one that recently cost a resident $8,300.
The department said it’s received three reports of someone impersonating a utility worker in the past month. The two other attempts did not result in a loss.
“Protect your money before you give it away,” said Sgt. John Quarless with the Prince George’s police financial crimes unit. “These guys are pushing a sense of urgency and secrecy because they want the money as fast as possible.”
Most residents reporting the crime have been elderly people, Quarless said, but anyone with money is at risk of being targeted.
Pepco became aware of the scam in late March, said William Ellis, the company’s external affairs director. The company is not aware of employees being impersonated anywhere other than Prince George’s County.
Using bill inserts and social media campaigns, Pepco has been trying to advise customers how to best protect themselves from scammers. Legitimate Pepco employees would never need access to the inside of a house, Ellis said, and customers should be able to see a Pepco logo on workers’ clothing at any given time.
He encouraged customers to take things slow, reminding them that swindlers try to move fast and use pressure to get quick money.
Ellis said the utility company usually sees a spike in potential scams around extreme-weather events, and, on the heels of a particularly rough winter, this season has been no exception. With high utility usage in recent months, he said, the company has infused more cash into its customer relief fund, which helps those in a money pinch.
“Customers should always contact Pepco if they have questions about calls or door knocks, and our customer care team can confirm legitimacy,” Ellis said.
Prince George’s police said it is continuing to investigate the scam. The department declined to comment on potential suspects.
Authorities also warned about another scam involving people pretending to be government officials or federal agents. The fraudsters contact people over text, phone or email and convince them that their bank accounts have been compromised. Then, under the guise of helping them, they tell people to make a large cash withdrawal and give it to a carrier, police said.
Three cases have been reported in the past month, police said, and victims have lost more than $105,000.
“We’re just asking people to pause, verify and protect,” Quarless said.
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